Title: Ultimate Historical Exploration of Transportation: Drive Duration: 11 Days and 10 Nights Accommodation: Hotels and Lodge

Group Size: 2-12 Pax

DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1: Arrivals at airport, Met by our staff transfer to Hotel ​ After breakfast, drive to visit the National Museum, where you see the famous fossil Lucy, who is 3.2 million years old; visit the Ethnographic Museum, visit Entoto St. Mary Museum, St.Trinity Cathedral church, and Merkato market, the largest open-air market in Africa. SIGHTSEEING ● The National Museum of Ethiopia ● Holy Trinity Cathedral ● Ethnographic Museum of Ethiopia ● Merkato Open Air Market Overnight Stay at Golden Tulip Hotel or Similar, Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Drive to Bahir Dar ​ Early in the morning, drive to Bahir Dar, en-route visit Blue-Nile Gorge and Debre Libanos monastery. If you think the Grand Canyon is impressive, compare it to its African cousin – the Blue Nile Gorge. Situated 210 km north of Addis Ababa and being about one mile wide and deep, the Blue Nile Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges in the world. After 100 km drive on the way lays the renowned monastery of Debre Libanos, founded in the 13th century in a magnificent 700m-deep canyon. SIGHTSEEING ● Blue Nile Gorge ● Debre Libanos Monastery Overnight Stay at Kuriftu Resort and Spa or Similar, Bahir Dar.

Day 3: Bahir Dar boat trip and drive to Blue Nile Falls ​ ​ Have a boat trip on Lake Tana. On Lake Tana, there are 37 islands and 32 of them having churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Ura Kidane Mihret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D. In the afternoon drive to the Blue Nile Falls, this is known locally as Tissisat (smoking waterfall): 100 m (328 ft) wide, the water plunges for 45m, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. Early in the afternoon drive back to Bahir Dar and finish the day with a lovely sunset over Lake Tana. SIGHTSEEING ● Lake Tana and its island monasteries ● Blue Nile Falls Overnight Stay at Kuriftu Resort and Spa or Similar, Bahir Dar.

Day 4: Drive to Gondar ​ ​ After lunch we will visit Gondar, the first capital city with the reign of . In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more of European than African origin. In the afternoon, we visit Fasiladas' Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue going to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berhan Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 . SIGHTSEEING ● Royal Enclosure of Gondar ● Debre Birhan Selassie Church Overnight stay at Gonder Hills Resort or similar, Gondar.

Day 5: Drive to Simien Mountains and late afternoon drive back to Debark ​ After breakfast drive to Simien Mountain National Park. Debark is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains National Park. Corrugated–iron–roofed buildings surround the colourful and busy market area. Before entering the park, you have to register at the park headquarters just outside town. Here, armed scout – one of the park regulations, joins you. Then drive to Sankaber for the best view. En route, pass through pretty country, the foothills of the Semen Mountains, with carefully tended fields, open pasture with grazing horses, stands of trees and distant rocky peaks. At the high point of the road, there are superb views across the weirdly eroded foothills of the range and you may also be lucky enough to spot you first Lammergeiers and Gelada Baboons of the trip. SIGHTSEEING ● Stunning Landscapes ● Wildlife and Local Lifestyle Overnight at Simien Lodge or Similar, Simien Mountains National Park.

Day 6: Drive to Axum ​ ​ Here you will enjoy driving across Simien Mountain National Park and the fascinating river basin of Tekeze, one of the biggest rivers in Ethiopia. SIGHTSEEING ● Lima Lima zig zag Road ● Tekeze River ● Axum Stelae Field Overnight stay at Atranos Fantasy Hotel or similar, Axum.

Day 7: Axum and Debre Damo Monastery and Proceed driving to Mekele ​ ​ After breakfast in Axum, you will have a city tour in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Legends narrate in the Kebra Nagast (Book of Kings) how the city of Axum as early as the 10th century B.C. was already the city where the Queen of Sheba resided. It is told that the son of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, Menelik, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum and it remained there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires and represented a crucial trade connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. Visit the Granite stone Stele of Axum, the Tombs of King Kaleb and his son King G/Meskel, the Ezana’s stone inscriptions, Queen of Sheba’s palace and Swimming pool, and the Church of Zion, the final resting place of the True Ark of the Covenant. Proceed driving to Mekele and overnight. SIGHTSEEING ● St. Mary Zion Church ● Wukro Cherkos Overnight stay at Planet International Hotel or similar, Mekele.

Day 8: Drive to Lalibela ​ A long but beautiful drive takes us to the highlight of your visit to Ethiopia. En route, we will have a few stops for authentic village tours. SIGHTSEEING ● Some small towns on the way Overnight at Mezena Lodge or Similar, Lalibela.

Day 9: Exploring Lalibela ​ The Rock-Hewn Ethiopian orthodox Christian churches of Lalibela, are one of the eighth wonders of the world. It’s a collection of churches, some connected by fascinating internal channels, with hermit holes where people lived and died. The connecting walls are full of religious symbols. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century. Some are beautifully painted inside. Visit the first and the third group of churches, they include seven rock churches. After lunch visit the second group of four rock churches. After dinner, you will visit cultural houses and be entertained with Ethiopian traditional music and you can taste Ethiopian honey vine. SIGHTSEEING ● Bet Medhane Alem(House of the world savior)-The largest monolithic church on the earth ● Bet Giyorgis(House of St. George)-Known for its unique architecture. ● Nine More rock hewn churches Overnight at Mezena Lodge or Similar, Lalibela.

Day 10: Drive to Dessie ​ ​ After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive to Dessie. On the way, you will see small towns of South Wollo and Lake Hike and its island monastery. SIGHTSEEING ● Small Towns on the way ● Lake Hyke and its island monastery Overnight stay at Golden Gate Hotel or similar, Dessie.

Day 11: Drive to Addis Ababa ​ Morning, we will drive back to the capital. On the way, you will visit towns known for fruit production. You will be arriving late afternoon in Addis Ababa. Depending on your interest and time availability visit the local gift and traditional cloth shops, Evening farewell dinner party and then transfer to the airport for night departure. End of the tour! SIGHTSEEING ● Towns of North ● Fruit Production farms END OF TOUR QUOTATION DISPLAY

NET RATE PER PERSON IN USD

GROUP SIZE 1 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12 Bed and Breakfast Basis 4653 2684 1970 1874 1719 1663 1595 Full Board Basis 4983 3014 2300 2204 2049 1993 1925

INCLUDED: ● 10 Nights Hotel Accommodation on a Shared Room Extra USD 468.00 per person for Single ​ ​ Room Supplement; ● All ground transportation by an Air-conditioned Toyota Mini(1-6 pax) and Coaster bus(7-12 pax); ● Professional English Speaking Guide: Extra USD 640 per group for French speaking guide; ​ ​ ● All meals from lunch day 1 to dinner day 11 (Optional); ​ ​ ​ ● All fuel costs as required by itinerary; ● All entrance fees; ● Airport Transfers; ● Boat Transfer on lake Tana; ● Local Guide and scout fees; ● Bottled mineral water in the vehicle (2 lt per day); ● Government tax associated with the trip.

NOT INCLUDED: ● Any accommodation on the last day; ● FOC Leader; ● Gratuities and Personal Natures; ● Alcoholic Expenses; ● And what is NOT included in the Inclusion List.